Margaret Thatcher’s biographer says The Crown didn’t capture the Prime Minister’s ‘humanity’

Margaret Thatcher’s biographer has praised Gillian Anderson’s portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in The Crown, but says the drama does not capture the Prime Minister’s ‘humanity’. 

Mrs Thatcher appeared in the fourth series of the Netflix drama, which covered the years 1977-1990.  

Speaking on Chopper’s Politics podcast for The Telegraph, Charles Moore claimed that while Anderson encapsulated the ‘incredible determination’ of Thatcher, the series did not show her desire to ‘directly communicate’ with those who felt excluded from 1970s society. 

He also disputed fabricated scenes in the third episode of the drama, falsely depicting Mrs Thatcher being humiliated by the Royal Family at Balmoral, calling the idea the Queen would be impolite to the Prime Minister ‘not believable’. 

Charles Moore , (pictured in 2013) who penned the authorised biography of Thatcher, claimed that Anderson encapsulated the ‘incredible determination’ of Thatcher

Speaking of Anderson’s performance, he said: ‘I think it’s very good on one thing and not very good on the rest. 

‘The one thing is that Gillian Anderson captures the incredible determination and seriousness of Margaret Thatcher, the woman coming from nowhere as it were, not a privileged background, and entering this world of power and how difficult that was for her, and how determined she was, working her way through it – that’s well done.’ 

‘What it doesn’t have is any of the humanity of Margaret Thatcher, which was a big thing for those who worked with her. 

‘For example and it doesn’t explain that her passion was a direct communication with people who felt excluded by what had gone on in the 1970s, like ordinary trade union members who were being pushed around by trade union leaders, and it’s political account of the year is just rubbish.’ 

Moore says The Crown showed the ‘incredible determination’ of Thatcher, but the series did not show her desire to ‘directly communicate’ with those who felt excluded in the 1970s 

The Crown shows Margaret and Denis Thatcher’s first visit to Balmoral, which took place in August 1979. On the airplane to Scotland, Denis warns his wife of the ‘secret tests’ new guests can expect to encounter on a visit to Balmoral. 

As soon as the Thatchers arrive at the Aberdeenshire estate, it becomes clear they are unsure of the social protocol.

First Denis wrongly tries to give a tip to the staff, then Mrs Thatcher protests over someone else unpacking her husband’s bag, and finally they come down for casual drinks dressed in black tie  

The following day, the Prime Minister turns up to go stalking wearing a blue skirt, blazer and dress shoes. The Queen later gently suggests she goes home to change. 

‘She certainly would not have gone stalking in a bright blue dress, no,’ said Moore. ‘It’s factually wrong all of that.’ 

He also disputed fabricated scenes in the third episode of the drama, falsely depicting Mrs Thatcher being humiliated by the Royal Family at Balmoral. Pictured, Anderson and Olivia Coleman as Queen Elizabeth 

‘For example, the idea the Queen would be rude to Margaret Thatcher is not believable, it’s also not believable that Margaret Thatcher would be rude to the Queen. 

While Moore insisted the Queen would never have been discourteous to Mrs Thatcher, he admits that the show captures the how Margaret and husband Dennis may have felt out of place among the royals. 

‘The Balmoral film does capture one aspect, which is here are Dennis and Margaret entering a world they don’t know.

‘It’s a very different world and they’re ill at ease and some of the courtiers were laughing at them.’ 

Moore also confessed that Mrs Thatcher greeting the Queen with her famously low-flying curtsy was true, and ‘did look a bit ridiculous in real life’. Pictured, Thatcher and husband Denis meeting Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip in 1995 

He added that the Thatchers were ‘too formal’ for the setting, and felt ‘unease’ in the grand circumstances of Balmoral.  

Moore also confessed that Mrs Thatcher greeting the Queen with her famously low-flying curtsy was true, and ‘did look a bit ridiculous in real life’.  

The new season begins as the 1970s are drawing to a close, with the Royal Family preoccupied with safeguarding the line of succession by securing an appropriate bride for Prince Charles who is still unmarried at 30. 

It will document Diana’s blossoming romance with Prince Charles, meanwhile the British nation is struggling with the impact of the divisive policies introduced by Britain’s first female Prime Minister Thatcher.

Moore, pictured in 2015, disputed the show’s claim there was ill feeling between the Prime Minister and the monarch, emphasising the Queen ‘really, truly is unpolitical’

Tensions between the Prime Minister and the Queen worsen as Thatcher leads the country into the Falklands War, generating conflict within the Commonwealth. 

However Moore once again disputed the show’s claim there was ill feeling between the Prime Minister and the monarch, emphasising the Queen ‘really, truly is unpolitical’. 

‘The idea the Queen is trying to push a political view is quite wrong’, he said, ‘The one thing she would do is push the idea of peace and unity. 

He added: ‘She was sometimes worried by big conflicts, but it doesn’t mean she’s against Mrs Thatcher’s policies.’